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Raley tabbed for another start in Cubs' rotation

Raley tabbed for another start in Cubs' rotation

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Brooks Raley

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CINCINNATI -- Some fresh faces could soon be leaving their mark in Chicago in the coming weeks as the season begins to draw to a close.

Brooks Raley has made just three starts this season, but notched the first win career in the night portion of Saturday's doubleheader, earning him another outing in the Cubs' showdown with the Rockies on Aug. 25.

"[Raley] will be here," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum. "He'll probably start again on Saturday. Raley has done a good job."

But Raley, who was designated to Triple-A Iowa again Sunday, isn't the only name Chicago should become familiar with.

Sveum said Sunday that southpaw Chris Rusin may be called in to start Tuesday in Milwaukee.

"Rusin is obviously a guy that we're thinking about, and we've got to make a decision who's going to start on Tuesday. There's a good chance it might be him," Sveum said. "We'll probably make that decision sometime [Sunday] after the game."

Rusin, 8-8 with a 4.94 ERA in 24 starts this season for Iowa, is not on the Cubs 40-man roster, which means a roster move would have to be made.

"If he's going to get a longer look, he's going to have to replace somebody, or go with six guys in September or something like that," Sveum said. "We have to decide what we're going to do."

Cubs fans have already gotten a glimpse of what the future may hold at the top of the rotation with righty Jeff Samardzija, who is on the verge of completing his first season as a full-time starter.

Samardzija, 27, said he is embracing the leadership role he is sure to have in the coming seasons.

"Obviously, it's got to take place on the field, but you can also show them that you're that guy in between your starts with your work ethic and how into each game you are, and things like that," said Samardzija, who is 8-11 with a 4.17 ERA. "I just want to be consistent with them so they can see from Day 1 to Day 162, 'Hey, this guy was the same guy every day. He came out strong, he did his work and we're going to expect a lot out of him in the future.'"